Destruction of Jerusalem
21
would have been overwhelmed with horror. Christ presented before
them an outline of the prominent events to take place before the close
of time. His words were not then fully understood; but their meaning
was to be unfolded as His people should need the instruction therein
given. The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in its meaning;
while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured also
the terrors of the last great day.
Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were
to fall upon apostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance
that would come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the
Messiah. Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax. The
dreaded hour would come suddenly and swiftly. And the Saviour
[26]
warned His followers: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
(whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea
flee into the mountains.”
Matthew 24:15, 16
;
Luke 21:20, 21
. When
the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy
ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the
followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning
sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay.
Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal
for flight must be immediately obeyed. He who chanced to be upon
the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save his most
valued treasures. Those who were working in the fields or vineyards
must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while
they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a
moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction.
In the reign of Herod, Jerusalem had not only been greatly beau-
tified, but by the erection of towers, walls, and fortresses, adding to
the natural strength of its situation, it had been rendered apparently
impregnable. He who would at this time have foretold publicly its
destruction, would, like Noah in his day, have been called a crazed
alarmist. But Christ had said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but My words shall not pass away.”
Matthew 24:35
. Because of her
sins, wrath had been denounced against Jerusalem, and her stubborn
unbelief rendered her doom certain.
The Lord had declared by the prophet Micah: “Hear this, I pray
you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel,